Hanks will play Gus Grimly, a single father who has to choose between his personal safety and his duty as a police officer when he finds himself face-to-face with a killer.

Production for the series will begin later this month, for a spring 2014 premiere on FX.

Colin Hanks has previously appeared in a number of TV series, including Happy Endings, NCIS, Mad Men and Roswell.

Fargo will be written by Noah Hawley (My Generation), who will also executive produce alongside both Coens, Warren Littlefield and Geyer Kosinski. The first episode is to be directed by Adam Bernstein (Breaking Bad, 30 Rock).